THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 12:30 PM CEST
US Forces Destroy Houthi Missiles, Vessels, and Control Stations in Yemen and Red Sea
Over the past week, US Central Command forces have taken a series of decisive actions to counter threats posed by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and the Red Sea.
These operations have targeted Houthi-controlled areas and their assets which, according to USCENTCOM, posed imminent risks to coalition forces and commercial shipping in the region.
On Thursday, forces destroyed a Houthi ground control station located in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.
UPDATE: 7:30 AM CEST
Openai Shut Down an Iranian Influence Op That Used Chatgpt to Generate Bogus News Articles
OpenAI said on Friday that it thwarted an Iranian influence campaign that used ChatGPT to generate fake news stories and social posts aimed at Americans. The company said it identified and banned accounts generating content for five websites (in English and Spanish) pretending to be news outlets, spreading “polarizing messages” on issues like the US presidential campaign, LGBTQ+ rights, and the war in Gaza.
The operation was identified as “Storm-2035,” part of a series of influence campaigns Microsoft identified last week as “connected with the Iranian government.” In addition to the news posts, it included “a dozen accounts on X and one on Instagram” connected to the operation. OpenAI said the op didn’t appear to have gained any meaningful traction. “The majority of social media posts that we identified received few or no likes, shares, or comments,” the company wrote.
Maryam Rajavi Meets with Ms. Naike Gruppioni, Member of the Italian Parliament
On Thursday, August 15, Maryam Rajavi met with Ms. Naike Gruppioni, a distinguished member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Parliament. At the outset of the meeting, Ms. Gruppioni remarked, “From the very first time I saw you, I was profoundly impressed by your struggle and courage. You embody a model of bravery for women. The fact that you have dedicated your life to the people of Iran, particularly the women of your country so that future generations can grow up in freedom and within a free society, is truly inspiring. This dedication is not only significant for Iran but also serves as a model for all of us. The ten-point plan you have proposed is unparalleled and should be introduced to the world.”
The Dire Conditions of Nurses in Iran
Despite their extremely hard working conditions and dedication to their profession, Iran’s nurses face some of the worst professional behavior from the regime.
Nursing is one of the most arduous jobs under the clerical regime. Many nurses are forced to work two consecutive shifts just to survive below the poverty line. Despite this, the shortage of nurses remains a chronic issue. Additionally, many nurses have emigrated due to the exhausting working conditions and the lack of essential livelihood and welfare facilities, and this trend continues widely. In recent years, it has been reported that there is a shortage of at least 100,000 nurses. At the same time, the regime is implementing plans for the “gender segregation” of nurses.
Iran’s Economic Growth Target Deemed Unrealistic, Experts Warn
Iran’s ambitious goal of achieving 8% economic growth, as outlined in its Seventh Development Plan, has come under scrutiny from economic experts and officials. Mehdi Sadeghi Niaraki, the vice president of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, has raised significant doubts about the feasibility of this target, highlighting the enormous financial challenges the country faces.
Speaking at a meeting of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce on August 13, Niaraki stated that reaching the 8% growth target would require an astronomical investment of approximately $83.4 trillion (five quintillion tomans). To put this figure into perspective, he explained that achieving such growth would necessitate an annual investment of $100 billion. However, the total lending capacity of Iran’s banks and financial institutions in 2023 was only about $93.5 million (5,500 billion tomans), illustrating the vast gap between the country’s financial capabilities and its economic aspirations.
Iran Faces “Mass Migration” Crisis, Government Study Warns
A recent report from Iran’s Center for Strategic Studies has raised alarm bells about a looming “mass migration” crisis in the country. The study, which analyzes the results of a comprehensive survey, highlights serious concerns about the utilization of human capital and the increasing desire among skilled professionals to leave Iran. The report, titled “Managing Migration Abroad,” was published on August 3 but only gained media attention on August 15. It states, “We are now in the peak period of ‘desire and decision’ to migrate, especially among the skilled and capitalized workforce.”
According to the study, Iran is experiencing a unique migration phenomenon, with a pervasive psychological atmosphere surrounding the desire to leave the country. This sentiment has become a tangible force affecting people’s lives across various social strata.
Female Political Prisoners in Lakan Prison Hold a Sit-in Protest
Female political prisoners at Lakan Prison in Rasht held a sit-in protest on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, following the transfer of two women’s rights activists to the Intelligence Department.
On Wednesday, August 14, intelligence agents entered the political prisoners’ ward in the women’s section of Lakan Prison. They took two activists to the Intelligence Department in Rasht for “interrogation and some explanations.” The identities of these two women have not been disclosed.
The supervising judge at the prison has not provided any answers to the women in the political ward, prompting them to stage a sit-in at the prison guard’s office in protest of the actions of the intelligence agents.
IRGC Officer Killed in Drone Strike in Syria
The Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that one of its Aerospace Force officers has died due to injuries sustained in an airstrike in Syria. Tehran claims that this attack was carried out by the U.S.-led coalition.
In a statement published by Iranian regime news agencies on Thursday, August 15, Hossein Salami, the commander of the IRGC, identified Ahmadreza Afshari as one of the “Aerospace industry specialists of the IRGC in Syria” who died from injuries caused by the airstrike.
Government officials and Iranian regime media refer to members of the IRGC operating in Syria as “advisors,” but most of them are members of the Quds Force, the IRGC’s extraterritorial branch, playing a crucial role in maintaining Iran’s proxy groups.
Berlin, August 14, 2024: MEK Supporters Exhibition in Solidarity With the Iranian Revolution
Berlin, Germany—August 14, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) organized an exhibition to express solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. They also protested against the increasing wave of executions carried out by the Iranian regime.
Manchester, UK—August 15, 2024: Freedom-Loving Iranians Organize an Exhibition to Support the Iranian Revolution
Manchester—August 15, 2024: Freedom-loving Iranians and academics living in England, who support the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), organized an exhibition in support of the Iranian Revolution. They advocated for regime change and a free Iran.